Assigistoe of two-fifths



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1.

W. E. BANTA. BLECTRIG WAY. No. 318,411. Patented May 19, 1885.

Z. FZ'g5.//. /6 1111110183111/@1///M// @//H//y/H/m/@7H/ cv MM: 311126111101".

v4'. W95/M; d Maf/Mg. fa/14,160 M F *SW 3mm/SMV. gum

v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. BANTA.

ELECTRIC WAY.

(No Model.)

110.318,411. Patented May 19, 1885.

MAC:

UNITED YSTATES PATENT Ormea.

VILLIAM E. BANTA, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TVOfFIFTHS TO JOHN M. DODD AND ABNER M. OROV'IHFJRS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC WAY.

lvllfje ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,411, dated May 19, 1885.

Application filed March 10, iSSl.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. Birra, of Springfield, Clark county, Ohio, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Electric Vays, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to improvements in the canalization of electrical conductors within closed troughs or conduits-such, for example, as described in United States Patent No. 260,273, granted to me on the 26th of June, 1882. In my present invention I provide within such conduit a series of equidistant piers, of which each pier consists of a number of blocks, preferably of rectangular section, which blocks,whether ranked side by side or stacked one upon another, are so formed as to properly uphold and insulate the wires or other conductors. In its most complete form such conduit is arranged for diverse kinds of conductors-such as wires or rodsof which the diii'ercut kinds may be separated. into insulated groups by one or more longitudinal partitions. For (the comparatively numerous) wire conductors each block has a number of oblique notches, which, nearer theinterior of the block,bccome horizontal, so as to securely lock or retain the inserted wire or spool. Thicker and comparatively rigid conductors are inclosed in a longitudinally spirally slotted spool having a flange, and which,beinginserted slot inward within either a key-hole-shaped notch or a simple orifice in the block, operates to securely retain and support such con` duetor within the conduit. The consecutive blocks ot' each pier may be held together by cramps or other suitable fastenings. Grooves near to and parallel with the top of the containing-trough receive the edges of crown sheets, which, being sprung into said grooves with an upward eamber, are lutcd at their junctions with each other and with t-he troughwalls, so as to hermetically close the trough independently of the cap-course. Over all is placed a cap-course et" terra-cotta, cast-iron, or other rigid and indestructible material, which serves to protect the crown-sheets, and whose upper surface may be roughencd, so as to do duty as a sidewalk-curbing, or may be channeled, so as to serve as a gutter.

Vl'n the: accompanyingdrawings, Figures 1, 2,

(No model.)

and I3 represent the preferred form of my electric way by sections on the lines 1 1, Fig. 3, 2 2, Fig. 3, and 3 3, Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 4 is atop view of the same, portions ofthe capcourse and crown-sheeting being broken away. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively an elevation transverse ot' the conduit and atop view of that form ofmy invention in which the pier is constructed of blocks laid horizontally and stacked one upon another. Fig. 7 shows aspirally-slotted spool for wire, and Fig. S is a face view of a portion of a block in which such spool oecupics a simple hole or orifice extending horiA Zontally through the block.

A represents a small portion of a trough, preferably of the represented rectangular transverse section, and of any suitable material-such as terra-cotta, iron-stone, or castiron. rIhis trough is manufactured in any convenient lengths, which are formed at one end with sockets a, and at the other end with flanges c', adapted to occupy and be cemented within precisely similar sockets in the next consecutive trough-length.

I3 are cap-pieces, which may be of hewn stone, iron-stone, terra-cotta, or cast-iron, and may have flanges b, that iit snugly within the opening of the trough-top, and which have rabbeted joints b. Such pieces maybe roughened on their upper surface to serve as a curb, 0r such surface may have a valley or depression, b, so as to lit it 4to discharge the fune tions of a street-gutter. Grooves a in theinner walls ofthe trough parallel with and near the top edge receive the edges of crown-sheets O, which, being sprung into said grooves, assume the arched or cambcred form shown. The contiguous edges of these sheets being caused to overlap, beads c near said overlap` ping edges serve to stiiicn the sheets and lo operate as curbs l'oraluting of paraflinegiitch, or other suitable material, which is poured in the melted condition upon said joint, and also on t-he joint formed by contact of the sheet edges with the trouglmvalls. Openings a in the trough-walls may enable connection of branch conduits. Such of these openings as are not in use are closed by caps l). Within the trough are numerous equidistant piers, ol'

, which each pier consists of a series of rectan- IOS . has oblique notches 0, which, l'arthcr into the 2 sie bleek, become level, so as to support the wire or its containing-spool. G- in that position, and retain or lock the same to such position bythe oblique lnolniucnccs of the entrance ol" the notch.

Then it is desired to inclose the wire in a spool, such spool G may have a slot with a spiral entrance, y, which spool may occupy a notelnc, that is levelindireetion ot' t-helenggth ol" the wire, but sloping` downward into the substance ol' the block; or it may occupy a simple hole or orifice, ff, passing` horizontally through the block, (for support oi" intlexible conductors or rods R.) The notches may enter the block horizontally and then descend, as at ci", and may be inelosed in longitudinallyslotted spools GC The consecutive blocks may be fastened together by metallic cramps Il.

Where the blocks are laid in thehorizontal position they have oblique notches c" in their upper sides, which at their bottoms become rectangular to the vertical sides of the block.

The longitudinal partitions may be coniposed oi" pieces oi'greater length than the distance between the consecutive piers, and may extend through the piers.

l1 claim as new and oi' my inventionl. ln an electric way, the trough A, closed above by luted crown -shects C, occupying` grooves c in the trough-walls, and by a proteeting rigid cap-course, B, substantially as set forth.

lfn an electric way, a series ol' supporting-piers composed ol" blocks lll, having,` rabbets c, which receive one or more longitudinal partitions, F, substantially as set forth.

ln testimony ol which `invention l hereunto set my hand.

Attest:

Gnu. ll. liNien'r, S. @,lnrnx'rnn. 

